I want to build a small pen out of cattle panels and t-posts soon. We're hoping to get 2 fullblood boer doelings soon that would be 8-10 weeks old when we bring them home <the breeders we're looking into are kidding now>.

I'm really not sure how big of an area I should make for them. They'll get alfalfa hay, and grain, etc. <4-H doelings>. The panels are 16' long and I think about 4' tall, and I am sure the t-posts will work okay.
I could build it up against the main pen fence, to make it bigger.Should I make it 16' wide, 32' long? Would that be big enough?

But... what do you use as a gate? I have a pallet gate on my bucks pen, so maybe I can make one of those.

I dont' think I'd plan to keep any more doelings in with them, just the two. I plan to probably let our does who are getting ready to kid - keep their kids for as long as they want to let them nurse <the 4-H kids that we don't sell anyway>.

Ok so the panels should be 5 feet high just so you know. We use them as our fence in the field, Because I didn't want anything permanent since I will be moving. Make sure to put atleast 3 post per panel or else they are too flimsy. As for the gate since they are so flimsy at 1 corner just use clips to keep it shut. I would say 2 or 3 and you can just open it that way. Just don't put a post on that corner. If you put a pallet you will either have to cut 1 panel, have 2 gates, or have it not even.

__________________Roger

"Live everyday like its you last because you never know when it will be"

A few of my pens are cattle panels with t-posts. They work great for grown goats but not kids. Well maybe boer kids would be ok.
For gates we use the blue heavy duty welded ones from TSC that have 2x4 inch square spacing. I like a 4' wide gate at least to get the wheelbarrow thru. We cement in the round posts that we use for the gate only since that area gets the most use and pressure.

The good thing about the cattle panels is........you can always add to it, just dont sink the tpost in to deep. Thats what I have that way when I get more money I can just by more, and, well more goats

That size pen should be plenty big enough for 2 doelings, you can add to it as you need to as well. One thing though, the cattle panels have squares that are big enough for a horned goat to get their head through, but if the horns tip out at the ends,. they can't bring their head back through..... I know this from experience

A few of my pens are cattle panels with t-posts. They work great for grown goats but not kids. Well maybe boer kids would be ok.
For gates we use the blue heavy duty welded ones from TSC that have 2x4 inch square spacing. I like a 4' wide gate at least to get the wheelbarrow thru. We cement in the round posts that we use for the gate only since that area gets the most use and pressure.

You could always put chicken wire at the botem so kids don't get out.

__________________

~Skyla~http://jfdairygoats.weebly.com/
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;..... Psalm 23:4*Now Taking 2015 Kid Reservations!*

Thanks so much you guys! Roger - I'm sure these were 5' LOL they were leaning against the building so I wasn't sure. Do you have any problems with your kids getting out of them? I'm thinking the doelings might be 8-10 weeks, but can't say for certain since we haven't looked at any yet, just getting an idea

The areas I am considering I need to talk over with my husband first.
But first place could possibly be here:
In our backyard - this corner

going towards the gate

So...what I am thinking is... doing it this way, with the little squares being the gates. I'd have to measure it though as I have no idea how long it is.

If I make a gate out of pallets, it would make it wider, I don't mind pallet gates, they have always worked well.

Now the only shade they'd have would be a small shelter I'd make for them.
The other option gives them a lot of shade, but what I don't like is it would run up next to field fencing, and the fencing in the pics above are the smaller squares. Plus I can ALWAYS see them if they are in my backyard, we have no windows on the west side of our house where option #2 is at.
We don't really use our back yard, my son has a basketball goal near the pen, but we can always move it to so that's not an issue. We normally turn our girls out in the front or back yard in the nicer weather anyway to let them graze. If they run it down real bad, we can always move the pen...